Christopher M. Sammons, Child Exploitation, Ohio 2021

A federal jury in Ohio has convicted a 28-year-old Westerville man of sexually exploiting a five-year-old child and creating child pornography.

Columbus, Ohio – A United States District Court jury has convicted Christopher M. Sammons, 28, of four counts related to creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a five-year-old. Sammons faces at least 15 years in prison.

The jury reached the verdict late Friday, June 25, following a trial that began on June 21 before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

According to court documents and trial testimony, on March 11, 2019, an undercover FBI agent in Little Rock, Arkansas, received a message from Sammons regarding sexual interest in children. Throughout their conversations, Sammons encouraged the undercover agent to ‘just make some homemade stuff’ when discussing the availability of child pornography.

Sammons detailed sexually abusing a then five-year-old victim and also offered to ‘share her next time if you’re interested in a long-term thing.’ Sammons sent the agent child pornography files and suggested plans for he and the agent to exchange videos of them sexually abusing minors.

The jury convicted Sammons of one count of sexually exploiting a minor (punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison), two counts of making a notice for child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison), and one count of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).

Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

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